Shade-roller.



Flilillt@ JOSEPH 0. DOBSON, OF IVIOUN T "VERNON, IOW.

SHADE-ROLLER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar.. i6, i915.,

Application led June 8, 1914. Serial No. 843,793.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOSEPH O. DoBsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Shade-Roller, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to shade rollers, and aims to provide a novel and improved device of that character.

lt is the object of the present invention to provide a shade roller possessing novel or unique means for the attachment of the shade thereto.

rllhe present invention also comprehends the provision of a spring actuated shade roller, embodying a peculiar assemblage or arrangement of the shade attaching or anchoring means, and the spring actuating means.

lt is also within the scope of the present invention, to provide a shade roller of the nature indicated, which will be of comparatively simple, substantial and inexpensive construction, as well as being simple, convenient, practical, serviceable and efficient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, wherein vlFigure 1 is a cross section of the roller, taken through the spring. Fig. 2 is an end view of the roller, looking toward the pawls, and showing the roller locked. Fig. 3 is a fragmental longitudinal section of the roller, parts being broken away. Fig. 4 is a reduced end view, showing the shade completely unwound.

In carrying out the present invention, the roller l, as usual, is preferably turned from wood, although it may be otherwise manufactured. The roller 1 is provided with a longitudinal chordal split or cut 2, by means of a saw or other suitable implement, to provide a strip or cleat vsection 3 of segmental-shaped cross section, and seatable against the flat side 4 of the body or main portion 5 of the roller. lt is evident, at this point, that the roller l may be readily split or cut in two, to provide the body portion 5 having the Hat side 4, to provide the removable segmental strip or cleat 3, or the roller may be formed of separate parts assembled as illustrated.

The body or main section or portion 5 of the roller is provided with a longitudinal bore 6 eXtending from one end, the bore 6 being eccentric of the roller, as a whole, and being disposed approximately central of the body or main portion or section 5 of the roller. The bore 6 is disposed midway between the flat side 4 of the main or body section 5 and the opposite side thereof, in order that the section 5 will not be materially weakened by the bore 6.

The shade 7, which is of the usual character, has its upper end seated upon the flat side 4L of the body portion or section 5 of the roller, the upper end of the shade being clamped between the body 5 of the roller and the removable strip or cleat 3, whereby the upper end of the shade will be secured or anchored chordally within the roller. The strip or cleat 3 is secured to the body or main section 5 of the roller by means of brads, nails or other securing members, 8, driven through the strip or cleat 3 either along its edges or along its longitudinal median line, and taking into the body 5 of the roller. The brads or securing members 8 will pierce the end portion of the shade 7, and in being driven home, will securely clamp the upper end of the shade between the sections or parts of the roller.

The spring actuating means for the roller embodies a circular plate or disk 10 secured to one end of the roller, over the mouth or outer end of the bore 6, and a spring shaft or spindle ll is disposed longitudinally within the bore 6, the inner end of the shaft or spindle 1l being journaled to the body 5 at the inner end and concentric with the bore 6, while the outer end portion of the shaft or spindle 1l is journaled centrally through the' plate or cap l0.

The coiled wire spring l2 is disposed within the bore 6 around the shaft or spindle 1l, and has its inner end secured or anchored to the inner end portion of the shaft ll, while the outer end of the spring l2 is secured to the end plate or cap 10. The inner end convolutions of the spring l2 are disposed eccentrically of the roller, while the outer convolutions of the spring are reduced in diameter, the outer end portion of the spring being oiE spiral form, whereby the outer convolution oi' the spring will be disposed approximately concentric of the roller, in order that the torsional strain of the spring may be properly communicated to the roller from the shaft or spindle.

The outer end portion ot the shaft or spindle 11 is provided with a collar or ratchet wheel 13, and a tongue or trunnion 14, which is engageable in the slot of an ordinary shade roller fixture or bracket to support the shaft or spindle 11 in a non-rotatable condition.

The collar or ratchet wheel 13 is provided with suitable notches 15 for the engagement of 'the pawls or dogs 16 pivoted to the plate or disk 10 adjacent its rim, the pawls 16 being arranged to drop into the notches 15 by gravity, and being arranged to be thrown out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 13 by centrifugal force, when the roller is actuated. The notches 15 of the ratchet wheel 13 and the pawls 16 are preferably so arranged, with respect to one another and to the anchored end o'r` the shade, that when the shade has been completely unrolled from the roller, as seen in F ig. 1i, neither of the pawls will engage the notches 15 of the ratchet wheel, to enable the roller to readily rotate in a retrograde or reverse direction to wind up the shade. 1n this manner, the objectionable feature of locking the roller when the shade has been completely unwound, is eliminated, and the movement of the shade is always possible, while a dead lock is at no time possible, there being suilicient downward play of the shade at all times, to permit the rebound of the shade, so as to throw the pawl or pawls out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, when it is desired to roll up the shade.

It is evident that when the roller is rotated due to the unwinding of the shade, the outer end of the spring 12 being connected to the end plate of the roller, will cause the spring to be Wound up, whereby when the roller is released, the roller will be actuated in a retrograde or reverse direction, to wind up the shade thereon as usual. lThe peculiar construtcion of the spring 12 is of advantage in connection with the eccentricity of the bore 6, inasmuch as the inner end portion of the spring may be of comparatively large diameter, while the outer end portion of the spring is of relatively small diameter, so as to be concentric with the shaft or spindle 11, to assure ot the proper actuation of the roller in winding up the shade.

The attaching or anchoring means for the shade is comparatively simple, but is neverthe/less thoroughly practical and eiiicient,

particularly in connection with the eccentricity of the bore 6, it being observed that the attaching means 'for the shade does not provide any grooves within the roller or projections thereon, which might interfere with the proper action, such as the winding and unwinding oi' the shade. The end of the cleat 3 may lit under the rim or flange oi the end plate or cap 10 as seen in Fig. 3.

A shade roller constructed in accordance with the present invention will be easy and inexpensive to manufacture, there being no appreciable expense, as over the ordinary spring actuated shade roller.

The present roller is mounted upon the fixtures or brackets in the usual manner, with the trunnion or tongue 14 engaging one of the brackets, while the usual trunnion,

(not shown) at the other end of the roller,

rotatably engages the other fixture or carrier.

From the foregoing, taken 1n connection with the drawing, the several .advantagesv and attributes of the present device will be obvious to those familiar with the art, without, urthervdescription or comment being necessary, it being noted that the objects aimed at have been carried out satisfactorily by the provision of the structure herein disclosed.

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed as new is 1. A shade roller comprising a body por-4 tion having a fiat side, a segmental cleat section cooperating with the iat side of the body portion, the body portion having a longitudinal bore extending from one end and site side, means for securing the cleat section to the body portion for clamping one end of a shade therebetween, a disk secured to the said end of the roller over the mouth of the Y disposed between the flat side and the oppog bore, a spindle disposed Within the saidm bore, the inner end of the, spindle being journaled to the body portion at the inner end of the said bore and concentrically with the said bore, and the outer end of the spindle being journaled to the said disk concentrically of the roller, and a coiled spring surrounding the spindle, the inner end of the spring being secured to the spindle and the outer end of the spring being secured to the said disk.k

2. A shade roller comprising a body portion having a iiat side, a segmental cleat section coperating with the flatside of the body portion, the body portion having a longitudinal bore extending from one end` and disposed midway between the flat side and the opposite side, means for securing the cleat section to the body portion for clamping one end of a shade therebetween, a disk secured to one end of the roller over the. mouth of the bore, a spindle disposed within ranged to prevent the roller being locked when the shade is completely unvvound, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 15 my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH 0. DOBSON.

Witnesses:

E. W. DoBsoN, G. M. "vViLsoN Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, TD. G. 

